Netflix is one of the well-known and used streaming services in the entertainment industry. It has released some of the biggest TV series and movies that have captured the zeitgeist over the past 10–15 years. Shows like Stranger Things, Bridgerton, and Squid Game have swept up the world in hysteria. It has become a widely recognized distributor of films as well, boasting award-winning pictures for years.
Anyone who has had a Netflix subscription has dealt with changes to the interface, a wider availability for the platform, and pricing hikes. This comes with the territory, as shows and movies are expensive to produce and acquire rights to and Netflix has to pay for the entertainment it produces. Netflix gives users the ability to stream in crystal clear 4K, as long as they pay for it. Even if you do pay for it, you need to do a few things first to ensure you’re enjoying the content to its fullest.
Netflix comes with multiple plans to choose from
You get different features with all of them
There are three different plans that you can choose from when you’re setting up a Netflix account. If you are more of a casual watcher of the streaming service, you probably aren’t going to care that much about what the resolution of some of the shows you’re watching are.
That’s where you can save some money and opt for the Standard with Ads package. This costs you $8.99 per month and gives you most of what Netflix has to offer. Not only are there ads involved when you’re streaming, but you also don’t get the full Netflix catalog with this subscription. There are some shows and movies that are held back for the higher-paying plans.
The next plan is the Standard plan. This delivers content in 1080p and can be viewed on two devices at the same time. This allows families to watch things at the same time in two different locations. I had this plan for years, as my family all shared a plan before you weren’t allowed to share passwords anymore.
Netflix cracked down on password sharing in the U.S. in 2023. It restricts account usage to a single household. For anyone outside the household, it requires an additional payment. My family, just like many others, decided to get our own plans rather than split it between a larger group.
The Standard plan costs $19.99 when you’re paying monthly and does give you access to every title that Netflix offers. There’s nothing held back in terms of content.
The most expensive plan is the Premium plan. This costs $26.99 per month and offers content in both 4K and HDR. You can watch shows and movies on four separate devices at once, maximizing the household sharing.
Netflix in 4K is available if you are prepared
You have to have the right equipment
When you’re paying for a Premium subscription, you’re expecting to watch your content in the best possible format. But you have to provide the equipment to do so. If you don’t have the right devices, you’re wasting your money.
If you’re watching Netflix on a TV, you need one that’s capable of 4K resolution. Nowadays, many newer smart TVs deliver this. But, if you’re watching on an older TV, you may only be able to get 1080p resolution, limiting how you’re accessing your Netflix subscription.
For those who are watching Netflix on a streaming device, like a Roku Streaming Stick or a Fire TV Stick, it needs to have 4K capabilities as well. In addition to having a streaming device that can support it, it’s smart to utilize an HDMI cable that can deliver the speeds necessary for 4K as well. This includes Premium High Speed HDMI and Ultra High Speed HDMI.
Anyone watching on a monitor will need to have a 4K computer monitor to match the resolution. If that’s your preferred way of watching content, it’s smart to make that investment before you start paying for the plan.
Settings to know when you have a Premium account
Get your devices ready to perform
Even if you have a Premium account, you have to make sure that it is properly set to show you Netflix content in 4K. This will work on only a select number of shows and movies as not every title is available in 4K. The 4K titles are typically Netflix originals and newer films and TV programs. So even if you’re paying for Netflix Premium, not everything is going to be in 4K.
You have to log in to your Netflix account from your computer or phone. To take control of your Netflix, you have to be logged in on a computer. You won’t be able to get to this feature on your TV. Go to your profile icon and choose Manage Profiles. From there, you can look at your playback settings. In order to get the most out of the 4K subscription, the playback settings need to be set to High.
This will enhance the viewing of your content. However, it may cause your device to buffer more to reach the high playback settings. This blanket setting will be consistent for whatever device you’re watching on. You don’t have to manually go into each device to change the setting.
Be prepared to enjoy 4K Netflix content
Nearly $30 a month isn’t a small fee for a streaming service. In order to make the most of it, you have to ensure that you have the proper equipment. You need a TV or a monitor that can handle 4K resolution. Your streaming device, if you’re going that route, should also be equipped. In order to enjoy Netflix at as high quality as possible, you need to have these parameters met.
